Contrasting Roles of DOP as a Source of Phosphorus and Energy for Marine Diazotrophs

Type Article
Date 2022-07
Language English
Author(s) Filella Alba1, 2, Riemann Lasse3, Van Wambeke France1, Pulido-Villena Elvira1, Vogts Angela4, Bonnet Sophie1, Grosso Olivier1, Diaz Julia M.5, Duhamel Solange1, 6, Benavides Mar1, 2
Affiliation(s) 1 : Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, Marseille, France
2 : Turing Center for Living Systems, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
3 : Marine Biological Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, Denmark
4 : Department of Biological Oceanography, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Rostock, Germany
5 : Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
6 : Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
Source Frontiers In Marine Science (2296-7745) (Frontiers Media SA), 2022-07 , Vol. 9 , P. 923765 (10p.)
DOI 10.3389/fmars.2022.923765
WOS© Times Cited 5
Keyword(s) nitrogen fixation, Trichodesmium, Crocosphaera, polyphosphate, phosphoanhydride, phosphoester
Abstract

The oceanic dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) pool is mainly composed of P-esters and, to a lesser extent, equally abundant phosphonate and P-anhydride molecules. In phosphate-limited ocean regions, diazotrophs are thought to rely on DOP compounds as an alternative source of phosphorus (P). While both P-esters and phosphonates effectively promote dinitrogen (N2) fixation, the role of P-anhydrides for diazotrophs is unknown. Here we explore the effect of P-anhydrides on N2 fixation at two stations with contrasting biogeochemical conditions: one located in the Tonga trench volcanic arc region (“volcano,” with low phosphate and high iron concentrations), and the other in the South Pacific Gyre (“gyre,” with moderate phosphate and low iron). We incubated surface seawater with AMP (P-ester), ATP (P-ester and P-anhydride), or 3polyP (P-anhydride) and determined cell-specific N2 fixation rates, nifH gene abundance, and transcription in Crocosphaera and Trichodesmium. Trichodesmium did not respond to any DOP compounds added, suggesting that they were not P-limited at the volcano station and were outcompeted by the low iron conditions at the gyre station. Conversely, Crocosphaera were numerous at both stations and their specific N2 fixation rates were stimulated by AMP at the volcano station and slightly by 3polyP at both stations. Heterotrophic bacteria responded to ATP and 3polyP additions similarly at both stations, despite the contrasting phosphate and iron availability. The use of 3polyP by Crocosphaera and heterotrophic bacteria at both low and moderate phosphate concentrations suggests that this compound, in addition to being a source of P, can be used to acquire energy for which both groups compete. P-anhydrides may thus leverage energy restrictions to diazotrophs in the future stratified and nutrient-impoverished ocean.

Full Text
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Publisher's official version 10 4 MB Open access
Supplementary material 3 1 MB Open access
Corrigendum 10.3389/fmars.2023.1139310 2 291 KB Open access
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How to cite 

Filella Alba, Riemann Lasse, Van Wambeke France, Pulido-Villena Elvira, Vogts Angela, Bonnet Sophie, Grosso Olivier, Diaz Julia M., Duhamel Solange, Benavides Mar (2022). Contrasting Roles of DOP as a Source of Phosphorus and Energy for Marine Diazotrophs. Frontiers In Marine Science, 9, 923765 (10p.). Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.923765 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00824/93601/